Volunteer Projects in Sri Lanka

  Sri Lanka

Galle

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: Year round

Description: Outreach International focuses on two specific parts of Sri Lanka, both of which were badly affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster. The main area is in the southwest, between the towns of Galle and Tangalla. This is the easy-going, Buddhist area inhabited by the Sinhalese. The second area is in the east around Arugam Bay, inhabited by the Tamil people who are predominantly Hindu. These stretches of coastline are festooned with long, golden beaches backed with palm trees. The ocean is breathtaking but the beauty of the area masks the poverty and deprivation. Volunteering in Sri Lanka is often about assisting communities that have been damaged by the tsunami or individuals that have lost their families, their homes and their humble businesses.

However, we are not there to provide disaster relief. Instead, we are looking at long term projects where volunteers can make a significant impact through sustained support. Like our projects in other countries we work with small, local, grassroots initiatives. Your energies and skills are always needed but you would also enjoy the experience of becoming immersed in the warm, welcoming communities that host the projects. They have been carefully selected, visited and assessed by James Chapman, Director of Outreach International. Opportunities include teaching in schools, working with the disabled, helping at orphanages and residential homes and also carrying out coastal conservation work on turtle nesting sites.

The projects are based in the same area so that volunteers can enjoy the social benefits of living together. However, to minimize the cultural impact of our work we normally have just two volunteers working on each project at any one time.

Highlights: The luxurious green vegetation, the bright colors, the warm heavy air and exotic swirls of the Sinhalese alphabet: Sri Lanka unfurls before the senses from the moment you arrive. The main languages and culture were inherited from India. It has been a stronghold for Buddhism for over 1000 years. It has a longer history of western rule than any other Asian country and at different times was a Portuguese, Dutch and British colony.

After 20 years of civil unrest between the Tamils and the Sinhalese, predominantly in the North of the country, peace was brokered in 2001. In these more peaceful times, it is now easy to get off the beaten track and venture into the rural hinterland of villages, forests and overgrown ancient temples. The world-class surf beaches, coral reefs, and rolling hills carpeted with tea plantations, not to mention the roaming elephants and the delicately spiced food, all combine to make it the perfect destination for travelers.

Qualifications: None

Cost in US$: 4,400

* It does NOT include the cost of international flights.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Sri Lanka Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Outreach International's Mission Statement: We are committed to cross cultural exchange and education. We combine the desire of people to travel and spend time volunteering abroad with the needs of local communities to everyone's benefit. Our Environmental Mission: We are committed to doing all we can to preserve the environment. We are aware of the detrimental impact of international flights and make every attempt to be carbon neutral. That's why for every person volunteering abroad with us, we plant three oak trees. As we've to date sent over a thousand volunteers abroad, we now have a woodland of over 3000 trees overlooking our Somerset office and we look forward to planting many more! In addition, all staff travel is kept to a minimum. All paper and other office products are recycled. Our Cultural Mission: You are generally asked to work on your project in pairs, not in larger groups. This means that the cultural impact of sending volunteers abroad to small communities is kept to a minimum. It also makes it easier to integrate with local people and immerse yourself in the culture. We need to be sure that all projects are fully sustainable. Although they need volunteers, we make certain that they are not dependent on us. Our Moral Mission: Outreach International supports projects that genuinely help important environmental and humanitarian causes. These are not projects that hit the international press; they are small, grassroots initiatives that focus on the needs of individuals. We believe that you can make a difference to the lives of these people and that you will receive as much as you give. You should come back to the UK after volunteering abroad with a fresh outlook on life and new found wisdom. Your experiences may last for just a few months - but the memories will stay with you forever.

Year Founded: 1998